Kira

~

I smack Lucifer's hand away from my face, forcing some fight back into my veins and words, "Don't get your panties in a twist, I'll come up with something."

"Whatever you're going to say, be quick about it," Troy scoffs, he's not looking at me but at the barrier, as if he's seeing past it.

"I don't hear you suggesting any bright ideas Mr hotshot."

"You four dragged me here because you supposedly knew what you were doing," he's trying to act nonchalant but a part of me knows he's getting frustrated too, we've all been led on and there was no way he was okay with that.

"Ignore the pretty boy, I don't remember him ever having a reasonable contribution to your plans," Lucifer says with a dismissive wave. At that, Troy's indifference quickly turns to irritation.

"You..."

"It's the truth isn't it?" The silver-haired Demon cuts him off with a fanged smirk that would make anyone's blood boil, he's a natural at getting under people's skin but I'll never be sure if it's because he's a Demon or if that's just his personality.

Troy seemingly spurred into action, approaches me, "Since you morons can't think on your own, the obvious option is to present them a better deal."

Kuro nods thoughtfully, "Not bad, anything in mind?"

Troy doesn't get to answer as a loud boom reverberates through the barrier as if it's been struck.

"You lot are taking your precious time in there!" Ryoichi's jeering voice echoes from beyond our shield.

"Stalling any longer will hurt our chances at a compromise," the blond murmurs in front of me, and that kick-starts my brain into action.

"Compromise," I bite under my breath as thoughts come flying in and out of my mind, nothing solid was making itself known but there were only bits and pieces, guess I'd have to work with that, "Lower the barrier, Kuro."

"Kira," he gives me a questioning look.

"Trust me, I've got something."

"Got it!" He beams, bringing down the barrier just in time to see a large energy sphere flying our way. It's silvery light nearing us with frightening speed but Lucifer forms his staff, faster by several seconds as he's in front of us and slicing it apart in with scary efficiency.

The magic disperses easily enough but with a deafening bang still on either side.

He vanishes the weapon, summoning winds to clear the smoke, revealing Inoue who's just sheathing his sword as well.

"Patience is a virtue you know?"

"Not one to be wasted on Demon scum," Yasushi hisses back at the silver-haired Demon.

I feel his animosity spark through our connection, he wants to say something but he merely turns around and walks back to me, "You're up, make this work before I dice someone up."

I nod, feeling all eyes on me once again as I move forward.

"Your answer, little one?" Lady West chirps without wasting time.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but deal not accepted," mutters break out across the room again but I push forward, "I'm not some monster to be kept on a leash and I'm not going to put me or my team under the rule of some schemers, we've got standards and I don't like being led on."

Ryoichi has a derisive scowl on his lips, "Just when I was starting to think you were more reasonable than you looked."

"Shut it ass kisser." Kuro sticks a tongue out at him.

Motoichirou's gaze narrows at me, he's clearly about to say something but I don't give him the room to blow my words out of proportion.

"Despite all that, I still want a compromise, a fair one, one that that isn't built on you seeing me as a threat or your enemy because I want the same thing you do," my hand lifts unconsciously to the seal, "I know this power inside me is unstable, I know you don't trust the demons and I know you've had terrible experiences with the previous Keepers, but my deepest wish is to protect the ones I love and live the life I want and right now I need you to give us a chance."

"And what is the life you want, Demona?" Tokiya-san grins softly.

I chuckle to myself, fiddling with the fabric at the back of my hood a little embarrassed, "Nothing impressive really, but to put things simply..." My mind drifts back to all the fun memories I've had during my stay in Tokyo; practice drills in the park, rainy morning walks to school with the boys, occasional dinners with everyone, and quiet (not always so) weekends with Ares and Kat. If I have to give a word to it all it would have to be..."Peace with everyone I care about."

I stop avoiding their gazes in time to catch a strange glint in Lady West's smile before I'm quickly distracted by Motoichirou's bark of laughter.

Tokiya-san kicks his knees lightly, urging him to stop while letting out quiet wheezes as well. A couple of the other council members are shaking also, staring at me with looks that range from incredulity to amusement.

I really was a joke to these guys huh?

'That was embarrassing,' Kuro giggles in my head, I turn back to face him with a deadpan look.

'But I was being honest.'

'Case in point,' Troy adds sounding almost tired.

'Telling your enemies your hopes and dreams, unbelievable,' Lucifer hisses.

Shigeru-san's pointed cough calls everyone's attention once again and restores order to the chamber. There's that look of mirth in the glow of her Mask but it leaves, replaced by the previous seriousness, "That was very courageous of you to say, Demona, your honesty and integrity are admirable, though a bit naive."

Pebbles of confusion and agitation settle somewhere in my gut, but I say nothing. If it's apparent from my features she ignores it to keep talking, I probably should have seen her next words coming.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"We've heard your say, but what if we don't want to accept those terms?"

I can already hear Mammon's impatient grumble of 'Kill them all' at the back of my mind, his murderous intent seeping into my core along with Lucifer's. Before I can speak Kuro steps up, he has his cheery smile trained on Shigeru-san.

"Some of you do," he surveys the others before focusing back on her, "You don't seem the wicked and stoic type, you're one who sees the truth in people's hearts and I think you'll be able to convince others on the right decision."

Lady West giggles, "Good to see my lessons on flattery didn't go to waste."

Shigeru-san lets out a soft sigh, "I hold no such power, Dark One, but there's some truth to your words."

My heart calms by several beats in my chest at that but right that moment Yasushi slams his staff into the ground, "Enough, this back and forth has gone on too long!"

Hayahiko-san is rubbing at her temples as if she's starting to have a migraine, "True, but the kid is right, we're pretty much divided and it's only fair we consider the Keepers' compromise."

"And why should we?" Motoichirou is scowling like a child at this point.

"Being sneaky is not a good look, Mokkun," Tokiya-san chides

"Even then, how do we accept the terms of a naive and insolent child?! Who knows what they'll do if we recognize them as allies?!" Yasushi is pointing in our general direction, mostly at the Demons.

"That's quite the switch up, Yasushi-san."

He ignores the younger man's remark, reigning in his rage to composure, "The boy is clearly less trouble, end of discussion."

"Unfortunately we don't support that opinion, old man," Lucifer spits acidly.

I peer back at him with a deadpan look, 'Aren't you like a thousand years old or something?'

'Shut up, brat.'

Motoichirou zeros in on the silver-haired Demon, "There's little you can do about it, even if you're sly enough to evade our forces, we have ways of finding out who you are, will 'the ones you love' be able to stand against us in your place?"

It's a bluff, it should be, there's no way they would bring innocents into this. Then again, I've seen they had no qualms with sneaky tricks, but they're also the supposed the good guys, the ones to protect the world Nightmare wants to destroy.

I should trust that, but I can't, not when it comes to my very normal friends and family. Blood rushes to my ears and I can feel the power coursing through me at a more frantic pace.

"That seems to have struck a nerve," Shigeru-san muses.

"Don't tell me you haven't cut ties with your regular human connections as all perfect little Keepers should?" Lady West cackles leaning forward on her throne.

"It's not a must and it's her choice at the end of the day," Hayahiko-san has relaxed back in hers now.

West goes back to filing her nails to the irritation of Yasushi, "You lot can deceive yourselves all you want but what's the use of keeping attachments that can hold you back? You're only truly free when you have nothing, and many of my students have succeeded through that. The Keepers were really onto something."

"We're yet to hear of any of these students you speak of West," Tokiya-san, and for the first time that night, he has a dark look, one cast directly at West as if he's been reminded of something unpleasant.

"Kuro-chan is right there though," she flashes a sly grin.

"That is enough for now, West," Shigeru turns to Motoichirou, "There will be no need to threaten loved ones since a unanimous decision is nowhere in sight, the best thing is to take a vote." She turns back to me now, "All I request is your understanding, you've done what you can but you can't convince those who don't want to be. It's best you cooperate, for everyone's best interest."

My teeth clench behind closed lips, so we're back to uncertainty. Square one where; best case scenario, we escape and keep low until an inevitable confrontation, or worse case, we get captured here and now.

Whatever the case, it's out of our hands.

'Be ready,' I tell everyone and I feel the tension ripple through the room as our alertness is picked up on.

'This is going to be fun,' I can practically hear Mammon licking his lips.

"Kids these days, you all really need to relax," Lady West says mirthfully as she claps her hands. Mini whiteboards and markers appear in front of each council member, "What fun, no use wasting time since our babies are so antsy, we'll reveal our answers on the count of ten, Inoue-kun, start a countdown...Now!!!"

"Y-yes ma'am! Ten!"

Yasushi gawks, "That's barely any time to contemplate, you witch!"

"Tick tock old man~" she beams scribbling and wiping at impressive speed, "My, my I'm so torn, my favorite student or the perfect Keeper, what to do what to do?!"

The others turn to Shigeru-san who's staring in contemplation at her whiteboard, taking her silence as a confirmation it will be done this way before facing their own boards and adopting varying looks of thoughtfulness.

Sweat drips down my brows, these guys were really meant to be the professionals. I spy a smug look on Ryoichi's face, I'd almost put the bastard out of my mind.

Probably sensing my murderous intent Inuoe glances back, lifting his hand to his sword before pointedly continuing, "Five...four...three..."

Kuro frees some feathers from his wings.

"Two..."

Troy sighs lightly before sparking up.

"One!"

I form my staff just as the Council members flip over their boards. My instincts are on overdrive and my eyes swiftly scan each answer, almost immediately I feel my shoulders droop in relief, resisting the urge to fall to the floor on account of nerves, at least for now.

Three votes our way, and three votes for Ryoichi.

"So evil of you to vote against your own student, West," Tokiya-san teases with some level of venom.

"It couldn't be helped, I love riling him up, he's so precious when he's mad," she peers at his board, "I wouldn't say I'm shocked by your answer."

"Demona has made quite the impression on me."

"How pointless," Yasushi grumbles incinerating his board with Ryoichi's name.

Motoichirou's board which reads the same is tossed aside carelessly with an indignant huff, "What do we do now?"

"We could select a tiebreaker," Hayahiko-san pipes up, she places the board carefully by her feet with its Rough scrawl of 'Team Demona' bold black on the snow-white surface.

Shigeru-san's board has similar symbols, I catch her eyes with a grateful smile. I can't read the expression that tugs at her own lips in return but she turns away, easily vanishing her board, "That sounds only right," she turns to the stands, and I follow her gaze around.

"Picking one of your lackeys will definitely do the trick alright," Mammon grunts out.

"Rest assured, we'll do no such thing, Demona asked for fairness and I'll honor that," the older woman responds just as her eyes land on the center row of the stand to my right.

Hope blooms in my chest almost immediately.

"Master Yinglong, our esteemed guest from one of China's great sects, it would be an honor to have your opinion on the matter."

Troy's Master rises, gracefully drawing himself to full height with an aura of calm that I've only seen replicated in Troy. I turn to the blond hoping to at least see some excitement in his eyes but I'm taken about by what I find instead.

There's nothing, like he's confused as to what his Master would do now as well.

I don't get the opportunity to ponder why because Master 'Yinglong' starts to speak.

His tone is even and amicable despite the years showing on his face, "While the honor is mine, I would like to refrain from casting judgment on these young ones, but I would prefer to offer a suggestion instead, if your issue lies with which is more capable, there's no better solution than for both candidates to prove their dedication to the post."

Lady West springs up from her seat maniac laughter bubbling out from her chest as she points at at him, "Definitely the best words I've heard all night, old man!" She snaps her fingers, power collecting in are palms as bright orange spell circles form, "And I know just how they can prove such dedication."

My body becomes unbearably heavy making me sink to the floor. I hear a thump to my right and turn to see Ryoichi equally down for the count. There are spell circles spinning below and above him as well, I didn't need to look to know it was the same case for me.

The distant scream of my name, no 'Demona', from Kuro's lips comes muffled to my ears like I'm slowly becoming encased in some viscous fluid shielding me from the outside.

The only thing I can truly hear is the Lady's jeer, her earsplitting laugh, the coldness in her voice as she speaks.

"Let's see how much you wish to be Demona when faced with your greatest wish."

I get a sinking premonition of what's to happen but before I can really wrap my head around it or prepare myself, the world sinks into utter darkness as I'm dragged from reality.